E. coli is the lab rat of the bacterial world. More details
are known about the molecular biology of this organism that any
other, including humans. E. coli is very popular for use in
research because it is so easy to grow, with a fast doubling time of
only 20 minutes.

E. coli was discovered in 1885 by Theodor Escherich, a
German bacteriologist. E. coli is used in industrial
biotechnology to produce enzymes.

E. coli is a normal resident of the large intestine in
healthy people. It is a type of probiotic organism because it crowds
out disease causing bacteria. E. coli also makes vitamin K
which humans require to be healthy.

Although it is generally a good microbe, some strains make people
sick. The toxic strains of this microbe are responsible for about
half of all cases of traveler's diarrhea. One famous strain, O157:H7,
has caused disease in people who eat uncooked hamburger.

E. coli was the first bacterium to have been observed
mating (conjugation in bacteria). Conjugations is transferring DNA
from one cell to another cell.

Glossary

scanning electron
microscope - an electron microscope that bounces electron off a
sample to create a 3-D image.